April is Poetry Month

April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, and one of four months with a length of 30 days.

The derivation of the name (Latin Aprilis) is uncertain. The traditional etymology from the Latin aperire, "to open," in allusion to its being the season when trees and flowers begin to "open," is supported by comparison with the modern Greek use of ἁνοιξις (opening) for spring. April is known to be "National Poetry Month"

April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day, though not a holiday in its own right, is a notable day celebrated in many countries on April 1. The day is marked by the commission of hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends, enemies and neighbors, or sending them on fools' errands, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible.

There are a lot of people who love poetry. Many more do not. One way for those who do not enjoy poetry to begin enjoying it is for them to read the poem out loud. The rhythm of poetry is one of the things which makes it more enjoyable. This month I will share some of my favorite poems with you and hopefully you will share some of yours with me. I think my all time favorite poem is Vespers by A. A. Milne. Try reading it out loud and listen to it as you read it.

Vespers -
A. A. Milne 1882-1956

Little Boy kneels at the foot of the bed,
Droops on the little hands little gold head.
Hush! Hush! Whisper who dares!
Christopher Robin is saying his prayers.

God bless Mummy. I know that's right.
Wasn't it fun in the bath to-night?
The cold's so cold, and the hot's so hot.
Oh! God bless Daddy - I quite forgot.

If I open my fingers a little bit more,
I can see Nanny's dressing-gown on the door.
It's a beautiful blue, but it hasn't a hood.
Oh! God bless Nanny and make her good.

Mine has a hood, and I lie in bed,
And pull the hood right over my head,
And I shut my eyes, and I curl up small,
And nobody knows that I'm there at all.

Oh! Thank you, God, for a lovely day.
And what was the other I had to say?
I said "Bless Daddy," so what can it be?
Oh! Now I remember it. God bless Me.

Little Boy kneels at the foot of the bed,
Droops on the little hands little gold head.
Hush! Hush! Whisper who dares!
Christopher Robin is saying his prayers.

I used to read poetry to my class all the time. I think most of the kids enjoyed it. At least some of them did. The imagery in the above poem and the rhythm make it a wonder to me. Visualize and enjoy as you read it and come back tomorrow for another poem. ARTYAL, Hugs, j-bear.